The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is investing $4,125,923 in Commonwealth nonprofits — such as food banks, food pantries, and soup kitchens — through the Food Recovery Infrastructure Grant (FRIG) Program to help reduce wasted food and fight hunger in Pennsylvania.
“This program is all about getting good, fresh food to the Pennsylvanians who need it most instead of going to waste in landfills,” said Jessica Shirley, DEP secretary. “Nonprofit organizations such as food banks and soup kitchens play a vital role in providing sustenance to Commonwealth communities, so it’s important that the food they provide is transported and stored properly.”
Food recovery infrastructure grants are awarded to reimburse the cost of equipment such as refrigerators, freezers, refrigerated and non-refrigerated vehicles, stoves, and microwaves to store, transport, or prepare recovered safe, fresh, wholesome foods, ensuring they can be redistributed to the public.
Grants up to $50,000 were available per applicant.
Special consideration was given to applicants with projects that serve environmental justice areas.
In addition to releasing greenhouse gases when it decomposes, food waste represents a significant portion of landfill waste.
Food waste was estimated to be the largest single component of the PA waste stream, at nearly 1.6 million tons disposed of.
In 2018, the EPA estimated that in the United States, more food was sent to landfills than any other single material in our everyday trash.
Grants were awarded to the following NEPA recipients:
Luzerne County
• The Food Dignity Project Inc. — $50,000
• Catholic Social Services of The Diocese of Scranton Inc. — $8,029
Lackawanna County
• The Bread Basket of Northeastern Pennsylvania — $11,400
• Catholic Social Services — $25,545
• Child Hunger Outreach Partners — $50,000
• Meals On Wheels of Northeastern Pennsylvania Inc. — $50,000
• United Neighborhood Centers Of Northeastern Pennsylvania — $4,706
Punxsutawney to host Groundhog Day
All eyes will be on Pennsylvania on Monday, Feb. 2, to learn if we’ll have six more weeks of winter or an early spring.
Punxsutawney Phil — Pennsylvania’s most famous groundhog — will emerge again for the 140th year to share his prognostication with the world.
This event unites people of all ages and backgrounds to celebrate one of America’s most cherished traditions.
From Phil’s top-hatted inner circle of handlers to the tens of thousands of attendees who will brave the winter chill, Groundhog Day 2026 promises to be a moment of collective excitement and anticipation.
See visitpa.com/groundhog-day for information.
February consumer financial protection events
Investor Education and Consumer Outreach staff from the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities (DoBS) will host a series of free educational events across Pennsylvania in February to help seniors and members of the public protect themselves from financial fraud, identity theft, and scams.
The February outreach events, held in collaboration with community partners, will provide practical guidance on recognizing warning signs of fraud, protecting personal information, and knowing where to turn for help. All events are open to the public unless otherwise noted.
To learn about the free, non-commercial financial education programs or request a customized presentation, visit the DoBS Events Calendar, or contact the team at 1-800-PA-BANKS or via email at [email protected].
Pennsylvanians are also encouraged to call 1-866-PACOMPLAINT, visit pa.gov/consumer, or email [email protected] to report scams, resolve financial and insurance issues, and access help from the Commonwealth.
PID returns nearly $133M
The Pennsylvania Insurance Department (PID) this week announced that it saved Pennsylvanians nearly $133 million in 2025 as a result of PID’s regulatory efforts that protect consumers by putting money back where it belongs.
Through investigations, consumer complaints, and enforcement actions, PID recovered $16.4 million in restitution for Pennsylvanians who had funds stolen, underpaid, or had their money mishandled because of errors or bad conduct.
Additionally, PID helped connect almost 4,700 Pennsylvanians to more than $116 million in lost life insurance benefits and annuities through the NAIC’s Life Insurance Policy Locator service.
“Every dollar recovered is a win for a Pennsylvanian who was treated unfairly,” said Michael Humphreys, Pennsylvania insurance commissioner. “When insurers make mistakes or break the rules, we step in.”
When violations occur, PID works swiftly to correct the issue, which often results in a consumer receiving a refund, payment, or credit.
During 2025, PID received more than 15,500 complaints and conducted multiple examinations and investigations that led to real financial results for Pennsylvanians.
PID helped Pennsylvanians by:
• Fixing claim errors —If an insurance company wrongly denied or underpaid a claim, PID stepped in to ensure the consumer received the money they were owed.
• Recovering stolen funds —If an agent took payment for a policy but did not send it to the insurance company, PID helped get that money into the right hands.
• Refunding overcharges — If a company charged higher premiums than what was approved, PID ensured the consumers received refunds.
• Ensuring compliance with laws — PID enforced laws to prevent unfair insurance practices and ensured consumers were not overcharged or denied coverage they should receive.
Additionally, Pennsylvania law requires all companies selling life insurance policies in Pennsylvania to participate in a service that helps family members of a deceased loved one find a lost life insurance policy.
The Life Insurance Policy Locator service is a tool that searches a comprehensive database of insurers to determine whether a deceased individual had a life insurance policy. If a policy is found and the requester is the beneficiary, the insurance company will reach out directly.
PennDOT adds truck parking spaces
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has delivered 339 more parking spaces to truck drivers traveling through Pennsylvania as part of its commitment to adding at least 1,200 truck parking spaces by the end of 2026.
PennDOT opened these spots at 24 locations across the state, including Interstate on-ramps, other Commonwealth-owned sites, and weigh stations where Pennsylvania State Police conduct motor carrier safety enforcement.
As the first statewide expansion of designated parking spaces other than through facility construction projects, the commitment is providing safe options for commercial drivers to meet federal hours-of-service rest requirements, helping to address a longstanding, nationwide challenge and improving driver safety.
“As a commercial driver’s license holder, I know how critical safe parking options are for the people who keep goods moving to and through Pennsylvania,” said Mike Carroll, PennDOT secretary.
Reach Bill O’Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on X @TLBillOBoyle.
Clinton Mora is a reporter for Trending Insurance News. He has previously worked for the Forbes. As a contributor to Trending Insurance News, Clinton covers emerging a wide range of property and casualty insurance related stories.